Offaly co-manager Declan Kelly praises influence of Mickey Harte on team
Michael Bolton
Offaly football co-manager Declan Kelly praised the influence of Mickey Harte on the side ahead of their Division Three final against Kildare on Sunday.
A winner of three All-Irelands, Harte’s impact alongside Kelly at Offaly has been evident from the outset, as the Faithful County gained promotion to Division Two.
A man familiar with preparing for big occasions, Kelly commended the immediate effect Harte has had on the Offaly set-up.
Speaking to BreakingNews.ie, Kelly said the influence on the younger players cannot be underestimated.
“Having Mickey involved in the set-up has been excellent, especially for the younger lads.
“To have someone who has won All-Irelands and enjoyed success wherever he has gone – it’s been excellent to have him around the camp.
“The belief he has given the lads in what they can achieve through hard work is huge. You can put in a lot of effort and sometimes get nothing back, but having Mickey there has been a big help, both to the players and to myself.”
In a league campaign that grew from strength to strength, promotion was the goal for Offaly, approached one step at a time under new management and new rules.
Offaly were able to build on a quick start to the league, while also giving several players valuable game time – something Kelly found particularly pleasing.
“If you look across all four divisions, the only unbeaten side was Wexford this year.
“The way it is – two games, a break, three games, a break, and then two games – the first two rounds were really important in the promotion battle. You knew if you got those behind you with four points on the board, you’d be at the top end of the table.
“It was clear early on that everyone was taking points off each other, so the goal in the next three matches was to get a couple of results that would leave us in contention going into the final two rounds.
“Up to last Sunday, I think 29 fellas got National League game time, so that was a positive too.
“With the tightness of the games, you had to use your panel.”
After a 2023 Tailteann Cup campaign that saw Offaly finish bottom of their group – including defeats to London, Down, and Limerick – football looked bleak in the county.
However, alongside the hurling team, fans can now look forward to two league finals in the coming weekends, bringing renewed optimism back to Offaly.
With matches against some of the biggest teams in the country on the horizon in both codes, Kelly is excited about what lies ahead.
“When we won the U20 All-Ireland in 2021, it sparked a bit of a revamp in player development across both football and hurling in Offaly.
“It raised standards. I'd say any player involved now would tell you they’re being really well looked after within the county.
“In Offaly, we don’t have a massive population, and we’re a dual county. We try to maximise the players we have out there in the clubs and give them the best chance to succeed and compete at senior level.
“We’re going up to Division Two, and looking at next year, there are going to be some big hitters in that group. For people at home – who might be welcoming Tyrone or Derry to Tullamore for a National League game – it’s a great opportunity for the younger generation to see those kinds of teams.”